Hogwarts: Dumbledore reigned over the wizarding world

Chapter 129 Scapegoat: Deals and Trust

Dumbledore snapped out of his reverie, his deep blue eyes fixing on Vaughn, his expression calm: "Why the sudden offer of a deal?"

Vaughn shrugged: "As I said before, we're partners, and I think it's time for you to know some information. It's that simple."

Old Deng remained noncommittal: "So, what do you want to trade?"

"I want a fire dragon!"

“…A dragon?” Dumbledore was taken aback. He had many ideas, such as Vaughn using this opportunity to force him and Nick to teach him alchemy.

I never imagined it would be like this... such an unexpected request.

“Yes, 10 kinds of dragons.” Vaughn scratched his head, looking troubled. “I need them for experiments, but as you know, dragon habitats are now closely monitored by the Ministries of Magic of various countries. Even if some occasionally leak out, it’s difficult to gather 10 kinds.”

"I really have no other choice but to come to you. What do you think?"

Dumbledore opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

After a moment, he sighed, "This deal is putting me in a very difficult position..."

Upon hearing this, Vaughn's lips curled into a mocking smile: "Stop pretending. It may be difficult for others, but you are the famous Albus Dumbledore, one of the developers of the twelve uses of dragon blood. As long as you say that you are developing a thirteenth use of dragon blood, the Ministry of Magic of various countries will be happy to provide you with living materials!"

This is also why he ultimately decided to make a deal with Deng.

As a renowned alchemist, Dumbledore's name is his most resounding trademark.

Dumbledore smiled again: "But my dear, that would severely damage my reputation. I'm over a hundred years old, and all I have left is this old face... you..."

Vaughn interrupted him: "The deal was voluntary, Albus. I just wanted to save time!"

His voice echoed in the quiet principal's office.

Dumbledore remained silent for a long time before saying, "Tom's resurrection requires his own willingness. You should know that he is very cautious and would rather wander in Albania for 11 years than ask the Death Eaters for help."

“Because those people betrayed him,” Vaughn said. “Apart from the Death Eaters imprisoned in Azkaban, who among those still active outside hasn’t betrayed him? How could he possibly trust them?”

"So, child, what is your plan? Are you going to release those madmen from Azkaban? I will not allow it, and neither will the Ministry of Magic!"

The air was a little stagnant.

Dumbledore had considered releasing the true followers of Voldemort from Azkaban, but ultimately he rejected the idea.

Those people are too dangerous, insane, inhuman, every single one of them is a murderer. Releasing them would be irresponsible towards the lives of wizards and Muggles.

He stared at Vaughn: "Or are you trying to use Barty Crouch Jr.? I won't allow it either, and neither will Barty Crouch Sr.!"

Old Deng always said he was a smart man, and he certainly lived up to his boast.

In the short time he heard Vaughn's few words, he had figured out all the possibilities Vaughn could choose.

But even the smartest person is helpless when faced with an information gap.

Hearing the old man's veiled threat, Vaughn remained unfazed: "It's not Azkaban, nor Barty the Younger, but another person whom Tom 'trusts' deeply... Albus, you must have been wondering for a long time why I know so many secrets?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "trust".

But Dumbledore didn't grasp the implied meaning. He raised an eyebrow, his azure eyes sparkling with curiosity:
"You still have one Death Eater who escaped capture in your possession?"

"That's right!"

Vaughn replied that, under the cover of his maxed-out brain-sealing technique, the image of a fat rat appeared in his mind.

Yes, it's you, dear Peter Pettigrew, the scapegoat!

Last year, when Vaughn first revealed information to Dumbledore, he had already found a scapegoat.

Who could be more suitable than Peter?

A former core member of the Order of the Phoenix, James Potter's closest friend, and a Death Eater who surrendered to Voldemort before his death.

After Voldemort's downfall, he lived as an illegal Animagus in hiding in the Weasley family for 11 years.

His extensive "employment" experience is a key basis for his knowledge of the diverse secrets of both sides, and his 11 years of "resume" hidden in the Weasley family can also reasonably explain why Vaughn discovered him.

Vaughn even felt that his unusual magical behavior before enrolling could be used to provide a plausible explanation to the outside world, thanks to Peter.

How could a child who hasn't even started school and hasn't been taught by his parents be studying magic at the most playful age? Of course, it's because of bad Peter!
This despicable traitor, who tried to train Vaughn Weasley into a dark wizard, foolishly fell into the hands of a mere child.

What a superb script!
Of course, these are all future ideas.

With his Occlumency fully restored, Dumbledore couldn't see through Vaughn's wicked sense of humor. He asked with curiosity, "So, your knowledge of James, Lily, Severus, and the secret of Tom's Horcruxes all comes from that Death Eater?"

Vaughn remained expressionless: "Yes."

"What's his name?"

This question is a trap; Dumbledore used "He" instead of the generic gender word "They".

The old man was trying to get information out of people.

But Vaughn didn't mind: "His name is also related to another secret, which you'll have to wait until we trade again in the future if you want to know."

Dumbledore feigned displeasure: "Selling one piece of information twice, son, there's no business like that."

However, Vaughn never cared whether he was satisfied or not: "I don't care. Anyway, if you agree to the deal, find 10 dragons as I ask—no hybrid subspecies. After you provide the dragons, I will give you that Death Eater when you need him in the future, of course, after you have bought his true identity."

"That's not fair. How am I supposed to know if you're lying to me?"

Dumbledore hadn't given up yet, looking utterly clueless.

Unfortunately, Vaughn didn't care at all: "Believe it or not, you won't need him until we solve Tom's Horcrux problem."

"..."

When the topic of Horcruxes came up, Dumbledore finally dropped the pretense. He pinched his brow in distress and asked tentatively, with a hint of hope, "Does that Death Eater know how many Horcruxes Tom has?"

If possible, eliminating the Horcruxes before Voldemort resurrects is clearly the best option.

However, to date, Dumbledore has found no trace of Voldemort's creation of Horcruxes, let alone their exact number.

To his disappointment, Vaughn shook his head: "Voldemort hasn't told anyone about this. As you said, he's very cautious and suspicious. Horcruxes are a matter of life and death for him, so why would he tell anyone else?"

Right……

Dumbledore sighed inwardly. Although disappointed, he felt that the Death Eater in Vaughn's hands was even more important. He could even understand Horcruxes, so that person must be one of Voldemort's undisclosed confidants.

If someone like that were to cooperate, perhaps they could truly dispel Voldemort's vigilance and induce him to resurrect!

After a moment's hesitation, Dumbledore finally nodded: "I agree to the deal!"

Vaughn smiled and said, "Well, I'll wait for your good news. Goodnight, Albus."

Vaughn left, leaving Dumbledore alone, silently enveloped in the quiet of the office.

After sitting there for a while, he got up and summoned the Pensieve. He touched his forehead with his wand, pulled out a strand of silver thread, and waved it into the Pensieve.

Memories transformed into thick black smoke, constructing past scenes in the meditation basin. He gently dipped his head in, and as the cool water submerged his face, his consciousness drifted into those scenes.

That was the Wizengamot courtroom. The figures of criminals from 11 years ago flashed before his eyes, and the secrets they revealed under the influence of truth serum echoed all around him.

But after searching for a long time, Dumbledore could not find anyone who resembled him.

"Who exactly is that Death Eater?"

As he pondered, a new scene appeared before Dumbledore's eyes.

It was a frozen image, taken from last Halloween, a memory extracted by Vaughn, which Dumbledore then hid in his own mind.

The Killing Curse's green light burst forth in the distorted corridor, with Vaughn blocking the way. At Vaughn's feet, Harry clutched his forehead, his expression contorted in pain.

The faint words of Vaughn from back then still linger in my ears.

"...Horregularities originate from the tearing of souls. Ten years ago, Voldemort's Killing Curse was reflected by the ancient magic on Harry, causing him to kill himself. Perhaps in that instant, a small piece of his soul landed on Harry's soul..."

"Albus, Harry is also a Horcrux, a Horcrux created by chance..."

Upon seeing this memory again and hearing Vaughn's words once more, even though he had already grieved, a trace of pain still appeared in Dumbledore's azure eyes.

From 11 years ago to now, from last year to this year.

He kept trying, hoping to help this poor child escape his misfortune.

However, what they ultimately received was one piece of bad news after another.

Fate made Harry Potter and Tom Riddle sworn enemies, an inescapable and unavoidable destiny.

Many times, he was disappointed by the irreversible "coincidences" hidden within them, until he encountered "coincidences" other than Harry and Tom.

For example, when Vaughn first revealed to him that Harry was a Horcrux.

For example, today's conversation!

Putting aside the hidden details they were unaware of, from a purely macro perspective, Vaughn's existence did indeed consistently influence the fates of Harry and Tom.

Especially in Dumbledore's own perception, Vaughn would provide new clues whenever he was in trouble.

This is a very strange thing. If we temporarily ignore the many details and possibilities hidden in it and analyze it from the perspective of fate, we will naturally come to a question - why is it Vaughn Weasley who has the intelligence and the Death Eater?
Because his existence can indeed interfere with fate!

After pondering for a long time, Dumbledore waved his hand, dispelling the memories of last year's Halloween and the recurring scene of the trial 11 years ago, and left the Pensieve.

I'm not going to get to the bottom of this!

He chose to believe Vaughn once again.

It wasn't because he trusted Vaughn so much, but because for many years, this was the only glimmer of hope for change he had seen in this child...

……

At the end of June, the atmosphere at Hogwarts is usually quite tense at this time of year.

On the one hand, summer vacation is just around the corner, and no little wizard can resist two months of carefree play.

On the other hand, after the exams are over, while waiting for the final results, the young wizards usually appear anxious and restless.

Especially in seventh grade, they are facing graduation, and given the current size of the English wizarding world, most graduates are unemployed upon graduation.

Therefore, Hogwarts has a tradition called the graduation trip.

That's just a nice way of putting it. The real intention was to encourage graduates to go out and see the world, not to stay in the British Isles, but to take the initiative to learn about Muggle society and the magical world of other countries.

If possible, it's better to find a job in Muggle society or abroad, then don't come back...

In the past, people would start preparing now to face the first iron fist of entering society.

However, this year, something new has captured everyone's attention—

"Harry! Smash it! Great, that's it!"

"Oh my god, I've never seen Hermione so handsome before! Harry, come flying in—"

"What exactly is this Ascension magic? Why have I never heard of it before? If only I could learn it..."

"That's a very advanced form of Transfiguration, you idiot! You're not even qualified to join Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Club, so don't even dream about it!"

Yes, "Harry Potter and the Painted World" is a hit!

The young wizards' need for entertainment exceeded everyone's expectations. At the strong request of the "audience," Fred and George watched "Harry Potter and the Painted World" over and over again during the days after the exams and while waiting for the results, as well as "Ron's Dragon's Lair" as a bonus.

Every screening draws a large crowd, and even though many have seen it three or four times, they still enjoy it immensely.

Unlike photographs, newspapers, and books, "movies" opened a new world for young wizards, even those from Muggle families, finding it fascinating—92 was not yet the era of full-fledged special effects blockbusters. Compared to the shoddy special effects of current Muggle films, *Harry Potter and the Painted World* was filled with the awe and magic of live-action filming…

The world within the painting, Chessboard Town, the "Queen's" transformation, Hermione and the villainous Professor Quirrell's various spells, dragons, and time reversal.

These elements captivated the young wizards, who eagerly imitated them.

Without a doubt, the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione became famous.

Ron became an overnight sensation with his twisted and unorthodox theories!
He frequented various groups of people discussing the matter, recounting his experience of actually facing a fire dragon.

Especially on the third day, after Fred and George showed the two scenes of "The Dark Lord's Transformation" and "The Descent of the Fire Dragon," the power of the fire dragon to melt the stone bridge shocked the young wizards, and they admired Ron's bravery even more.

Harry wanted to escape such a scene, but Hogwarts was a huge place, and the area he could move around in was limited to a few places.

He only hid for a day. When Ron showed up that night, he had to return to his dormitory to rest. He was then surrounded by his Gryffindor classmates, who kept asking him about his "filming experience" and whether Professor Quirrell was really a bad guy.

When the "Dark Lord transformation" storyline began airing, Harry's popularity soared.

Everyone in the wizarding world knows about the love-hate relationship between Harry Potter and the Dark Lord. When the Dark Lord's twisted shadow appeared on the screen, and when his hoarse voice uttered the name "Harry Potter," the entire restaurant erupted in cheers.

From that day on, the question people asked Harry most often was, "Who played the Dark Lord?"

That magic could distort the environment, and that overwhelming evil conquered everyone!

However, the trio, who had been instructed by Vaughn not to reveal the actual situation for the time being, did not respond, which only fueled everyone's curiosity.

Of the trio, Hermione was the least bothered because she spent almost every day hiding in the library, with Mrs. Pince's feather duster keeping out a large number of young wizards.

The day before the results were to be announced was June 29th.

With the twins releasing another new plot twist yesterday—"time travel"—the movie craze has swept through the entire Hogwarts, with even the previously reserved upperclassmen now getting hooked.

So today, the twins take the opportunity to unveil the final act—"The Wizard Returns from the Past and the Dark Lord Falls!"
On the giant screen, when the Dark Lord effortlessly defeated Harry, Hermione, and the dragon, everyone was on tenterhooks about what would happen next.

Hermione used her wits to feint and successfully trick the dragon into turning on the time-tamper, thus restarting the flow of time.

Then, to everyone's anticipation, a pair of hands passed through the light and shadow of time reversal, embracing the fire dragon Nobeta. As the time reversal ended, the owner of those hands finally appeared and quickly used Apparition to tear off the Dark Lord's arm, at which point the entire restaurant erupted in gasps and cheers.

"what--"

The usually reserved Ravenclaw let out a series of screams.

Malfoy, who was initially annoyed by Harry's success, led the Slytherin House in slamming the table, creating a loud, energetic drumbeat.

Hufflepuff and Gryffindor have gone mad too.

"My brother! Harry and Hermione used time reversal to summon my brother!" Percy shouted as he jumped onto the long table.

Ron, who had always been at odds with Vaughn and had recently become even more resentful of him after his arrogance grew, seemed to have forgotten his "hatred" at this moment and shouted loudly at Harry: "Well done, Harry! You should have thought of that sooner! You should have let Vaughn come out and beat that bastard up!"

“Uh, Hermione came up with that plan, and we initially wanted to find Dumbledore…”

Harry's explanations were drowned out by the cacophony of voices.

No one cared about the facts he stated; everyone was simply mesmerized by the scene on the screen where Vaughn and the Dark Lord clashed with incredibly fast spells, watching the "Great Explosion Spell" blast the Dark Lord away with a deafening roar, and seeing Vaughn infiltrate the Dark Lord's Apparition!

At the end of the movie, a crackling sound came from the speakers, and Vaughn, covered in blood, squeezed the Dark Lord's head out of thin air.

The demon's head hit the ground.

The entire restaurant fell silent for a moment.

Then, it boiled over!

"Vaughn! Vaughn! Vaughn!"

At night, the restaurant is as lively as a sports field.

Slytherin slammed his fist on the table, calling out Vaughn's name. Malfoy was as excited as if the blood-covered figure on the screen was himself. He imitated the final scene where Vaughn removed the Dark Lord's head, grabbing Goyle by the neck. The poor lackey rolled his eyes.

The little girls in Ravenclaw screamed at the top of their lungs, their faces pale with fright at the sight of blood all over the screen. They covered their eyes, but their fingers were clenched wider than anyone else's.

The Hufflepuff badgers clapped and cheered, their appetites whetted as they stuffed food into their mouths and discussed everything in the movie, such as the spells Vaughn used and the apparition techniques. Cedric Diggory spoke loudly among the crowd:

"...When I first met Vaughn last year, I knew he was remarkable...Yes, we're neighbors, both living in the village of St. Catchpol, and our families have been friends for generations..."

The most lively of all is Gryffindor.

These troublemakers imitated scenes from the movie. Seamus waved his wand, muttering incoherent spells (Vaughn and Voldemort used silent spells throughout), and then, to Neville's horrified gaze, he blew himself away.

Ron bounced around like a spring, making "biubiu" sounds as he pretended to Apparate.

"Harry, you rascal, why didn't you tell me it would be this exciting to see Vaughn defeat the Dark Lord?"

He was playing around while loudly complaining to Harry.

But Harry himself was stunned, and said aggrievedly, "Didn't you see? I was already unconscious at the time."

Ron looked closely at the frozen screen and said apologetically, "Sorry, you're a bit insignificant, Harry."

"...I don't think you need to say it."

Not only were the students excited, but several professors on the faculty side, who had already finished grading the papers and only had time to come to the restaurant for lunch today, were also watching with great interest.

"His spells are so skillful, it's unbelievable." Professor Flitwick gesticulated wildly with his knife and fork. "Vorn's talent for spells is exceptional, but what's even more admirable is his diligence. I bet he spends at least four hours a day practicing spells, casting them silently, stealthily, and ruthlessly. I dare say, if he were to stand on the dueling stage, he could easily win the championship!"

Beside him, Professor Kettleburn, already drunk and dazed, had lost an arm and a half-leg during his many years of teaching.

But he remained defiant, and the bloody scenes on screen were like a stimulant to him.

He took another swig of wine, burping as he said, "It's also quite cruel, making full use of the split body. The first time, they tear off the opponent's arm to weaken their fighting ability, and the second time, they seize the opportunity to directly rip off the opponent's head. I really like it... But I'm a little confused about how they filmed it. The scenes of arms and heads being cut off look extremely realistic."

Professor Flitwick hesitated: "Uh, maybe it's a prop? I've heard that Muggle movie props can be incredibly realistic."

"Perhaps." Professor Kettleburn took another swig of wine.

The two were completely unaware of the grim expressions on the faces of Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape on the other side.

Snape stared at the head rolling to the ground in the still image on the screen, his expression somber and somewhat dazed.

After being enlightened by the young wizards from Muggle families, everyone knew that "movies" were fictional, but he knew that everything in those scenes was real!
Snape raised his glass in a daze, took a sip of wine, and the alcohol stimulated his taste buds and his drowsy brain.

His former master, his former idol, had his head ripped off by his student...

He had mixed feelings; he was sad, proud, and conflicted.

In a daze, he heard someone call his name.

"Severus."

Snape turned and saw Professor McGonagall looking worriedly at the students below: "Should we ban this film? It's too bloody and violent."

She knew that what was depicted in the movie was real, so she was especially worried.

Snape dismissed her concerns: "They are wizards, not cowardly Muggles. Exposure to cruelty won't do them any harm. Besides, Dumbledore didn't stop the movie from showing, and he wasn't worried. So why are you worried?"

Upon hearing Snape's words, "cowardly Muggle," Professor McGonagall frowned but did not refute them; now was not the time to argue. "What exactly is Albus planning? When is he going to reveal the truth?"

As she spoke, she complained, "Albus's whereabouts are becoming increasingly elusive. I haven't seen him for several days now. As the principal, he's neglecting his duties all day long..."

Snape's ears automatically filtered out Professor McGonagall's incessant complaints, and he didn't answer her questions, but just silently drank his wine.

He knew where Dumbledore had gone, and he also knew about Dumbledore and Vaughn's plans.

The truth about the "movie" will not be revealed to the outside world in the short term. Announcing that the Dark Lord is still alive before we are fully prepared will only increase panic.

Therefore, for the foreseeable future, for a long time to come, the so-called "Harry Potter and the World in Pictures" will only be a movie, a new commodity.

The general public doesn't need the truth!
Only those who wield power and possess value are qualified to know the truth.

Because of the movie's excitement, an ordinary dinner almost turned into a banquet. Encouraged by everyone, the twins triumphantly replayed the final scene twice more. It wasn't until late at night, when the professors started to ask everyone to leave, that everyone reluctantly departed.

However, their conversation still revolved around the plot of the "movie".

“I’ve never heard of anyone being able to apparite another person. Neville, have you ever heard of it?”

In the dormitory, Simo vigorously wiped the black ash off his face while asking Neville.

Neville shook his head blankly: "I... I've never even experienced a follower manifesting..."

Dean Thomas asked curiously, "What is 'appearance of a follower'?"

“One form of Apparition is when I Apparate with you, and you and I become visible together, that’s called Follower Apparition,” Seamus explained.

"is it hard?"

“It’s extremely difficult, Dean. Apparition also requires personal willpower and magic to perform the correct operation, otherwise you will also split into two. Of course, the most difficult one is Apparition. You can imagine yourself being stretched into a noodle and traveling through a bizarre tunnel, and you have to accurately find the place and successfully appear…”

Simo explained to Dean what Apparition was all about.

Meanwhile, Ron, having calmed down, sat on Harry's bed and whispered to Harry.

Ron glanced furtively at his roommates who were chatting, and whispered to Harry, "So many people are asking me who plays the Mystic. I can't take it anymore, Harry."

Harry shared this worry, sighing, "Me too, people have been asking me where Professor Quirrell is..."

"What exactly are Vaughn and Dumbledore planning?"

"I don't know either... I'll just pretend for now, and if anyone asks again, I'll say I don't know them."

Harry was indeed unaware of Vaughn and Dumbledore's plans. Since their last conversation, he had come to understand why the two were keeping certain things from him and accepted their explanation. He stopped pressing for details after that.

Ron nodded and didn't say anything more. He opened the box he had brought back with him, which contained some bread and other food that he had brought for Banban.

After tearing the bread and fried chicken into small pieces and putting them into the cage, Ron lay down on the bed, listening to Seamus, Dean, and Neville still chattering about the movie.

He lowered his voice: "Harry, what would happen if one day they found out that the movies they watched were real?"

It will definitely be a shock.

Ron didn't need Harry to answer; he knew the answer himself. He muttered, "It feels like a dream to me, let alone anyone else. The Man of Darkness... what a terrifying name! Adults used to scare us with him when we were little, saying things like, 'If you cry again, the Man of Darkness will come.' Even the naughtiest Fred and George would shut their mouths in fear when they heard the adults say that..."

Harry lay on his side in bed, listening quietly.

His childhood wasn't so stimulating; no one even bothered to scare him. His Aunt Penny and Uncle Vernon would simply lock him in the cupboard or the stairwell to block out the noise, letting him cry until his voice was hoarse and he cried himself to sleep.

“...Only Vaughn, he was never afraid. As far back as I can remember, he never feared anything. I remember once Ginny got Percy’s robe dirty, and Percy threatened to sell her to the Mysterio. Ginny cried her eyes out.”

“Vaughn carried her into the room—we were sharing a room back then—and told her he would protect her and make sure the Mystic could never hurt her…”

Ron turned his head and whispered to Harry, who was listening quietly, "Who would have thought? The words he used to comfort children would actually come true one day... Although we knew he had defeated the Dark Lord many days ago, it was just hearsay until we saw it with our own eyes today... Pretty cool, right, Harry?"

"Um……"

"If only I were the person on that screen!" Ron said wistfully.

Harry rolled his eyes; he knew Ron would have such delusions.

"Go wash up and go to sleep, you can dream about anything..." Harry said, preparing to take off his glasses, when he looked up and saw Scabbers in a cage on the bedside table: "Ron, Scabbers seems to be trembling?"

Ron quickly got up and checked it carefully, but couldn't find anything wrong. He could only worry and put it back in the cage: "It's probably too old, and it's been locked in a cage all day with no room to move around... It's all Vaughn's fault for raising such a stinky cat!"

"Cats are in their nature to catch mice, and fruit tea is very cute."

The two guarded the cage and observed for a while until Scabbers stopped trembling. Only then did they feel relieved. They chatted casually for a few more minutes and then called on Simmo, Dean, and Neville to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who would take a bath first.

(End of this chapter)